Fifty years of hemodialysis access literature: The fifty most cited publications in the medical literature

Objectives The modern era of hemodialysis access surgery began with the publication in 1966 by Brescia et al. describing the use of a surgically created arteriovenous fistula. Since then, the number of patients on chronic hemodialysis and the number of publications dealing with hemodialysis access have steadily increased. We have chronicled the increase in publications in the medical literature dealing with hemodialysis access by evaluating the characteristics of the 50 most cited articles. Methods We queried the Science Citation Index from the years 1960–2014. Articles were selected based on a subject search and were ranked according to the number of times they were cited in the medical literature. Results The 50 most frequently cited articles were selected for further analysis and the number of annual publications was tracked. The landmark publication by Dr Brescia et al. was unequivocally the most cited article dealing with hemodialysis access (1109 citations). The subject matter of the papers included AV fistula and graft (9), hemodialysis catheter (9), complications and outcomes (24), and other topics (8). Most articles were published in nephrology journals (33), with fewer in surgery (7), medicine (7), and radiology (3) journals. Of the 17 journals represented, Kidney International was the clear leader, publishing 18 articles. There has been an exponential rise in the frequency of publications regarding dialysis access with 42 of 50 analyzed papers being authored after 1990. Conclusion As the number of patients on hemodialysis has increased dramatically over the past five decades, there has been a commensurate increase in the overall number of publications related to hemodialysis access

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Improving Dialysis Access: Regional Anesthesia Improves Arteriovenous Fistula Prevalence

The American Surgeon ◽

10.1177/000313481007600924 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 76 (9) ◽

pp. 938-942 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Worthington G. Schenk

Keyword(s):

Regional Anesthesia ◽

Duplex Ultrasound ◽

Prosthetic Graft ◽

Chronic Hemodialysis ◽

Dialysis Access ◽

Av Fistula ◽

Ultrasound Evaluation ◽

Significant Difference ◽

A Prospective Study ◽

To Receive

An autologous arteriovenous (AV) fistula is the preferred form of angioaccess for chronic hemodialysis. A prospective study was carried out to evaluate the potential of regional anesthesia to improve AV fistula prevalence. One hundred ninety-three patients underwent preoperative duplex ultrasound evaluation over a 14-month period. The qualification of each patient to receive either an autologous AV fistula or a prosthetic graft was based on specific sonographic criteria. Patients scheduled for placement of a graft received an ultrasound-directed supraclavicular brachial plexus block, which produces dense sympathetic blockade. After the regional block, those patients who met criteria for primary fistula construction on repeat ultrasound received a fistula instead of a graft. Of 62 patients scheduled to receive an AV graft, 23 or 37 per cent were recruited to receive a fistula instead. The outcome of the recruited fistulas was compared with the 121 planned fistulas. There was no statistically significant difference in primary failure rate (4.3 vs 5.8%). The recruited fistulas had a shorter average maturation time, 83 ± 48 versus 132 ± 82 days ( P = 0.023). Within the study population, functioning fistula prevalence was increased from 61.7 to 79.8 per cent. Regional anesthesia and immediate preoperative ultrasound is a useful strategy for increasing fistula prevalence.

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Comparison of the efficacy of two types of hemodialysis catheters: the VectorFlow vs. Palindrome catheters

Biomedical Research and Therapy ◽

10.15419/bmrat.v6i6.551 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 6 (6) ◽

pp. 3244-3247

Author(s):

Veisi Ali ◽

Sobhiyeh MohammadReza

Keyword(s):

Chronic Kidney Disease ◽

Survival Rate ◽

Kidney Disease ◽

Critical Factor ◽

Chronic Hemodialysis ◽

Hemodialysis Catheter ◽

Catheter Group ◽

Number Of Patients ◽

Mechanical Factors

Introduction: Permanent vascular access via catheters is a critical factor for patients who need long-term hemodialysis. Differences in the design and mechanical factors can affect efficacy and survival of the permanent catheters. Modifications in the designs of the catheters can decrease the likelihood of damaging blood vessels as well as thrombosis formation and malfunction of the catheters. Objective: To compare survival of VectorFlow, complete symmetry of distal tip and offsetting of its side holes, with those of Palindrome, a complete symmetrical catheter. Methods: In this study, 146 CKD (chronic kidney disease) patients who required chronic hemodialysis were divided into VectrFlow (76 subjects) and Palindrome (70 subjects) catheter groups. The patients were followed for six months and the survival rate in each group was determined. Results: Mean (+/-SD) survival time in the VectorFlow catheter group (6.55+/-3.88 months, 2 to 24 months) was longer than in the Palindrome catheter group (5.22+/-2.88 months, one to 13 months). After six months, the VectorFlow catheter group (40 cases, 54.8%) had a higher number of patients, having a functioning catheter in place than the Palindrome group (26 cases, 382%); P= 0.04. Conclusion: The VectorFlow hemodialysis catheter had a better survival rate after 6 months when compared to the Palindrome catheter. We recommend using this catheter in CKD patients, who require a long-term permanent catheter.

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Early Cannulation of Bovine Carotid Artery Graft Reduces Tunneled Dialysis Catheter-Related Complications: A Comparison of Bovine Carotid Artery Graft Versus Expanded Polytetrafluoroethylene Grafts in Hemodialysis Access

Vascular and Endovascular Surgery ◽

10.1177/1538574418813595 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 53 (2) ◽

pp. 104-111 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Preston Marcus ◽

Angela Echeverria ◽

Mathew Cheung ◽

Elias Kfoury ◽

Kevin Shim ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Carotid Artery ◽

Primary Patency ◽

Chronic Hemodialysis ◽

Dialysis Access ◽

Ptfe Graft ◽

Complication Rates ◽

Dialysis Catheter ◽

Hemodialysis Access ◽

Artery Graft ◽

Graft Implantation

Introduction: In patients who receive chronic hemodialysis but do not have autogenous venous conduit for a native dialysis access, nonautologous grafts serve as an alternative conduit of choice. This study compared the clinical outcome of hemodialysis access using bovine carotid artery graft (BCAG) and prosthetic polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) graft in patients who receive chronic hemodialysis. Methods: An analysis of all patients undergoing hemodialysis using either BCAG or PTFE grafts from 2010 to 2017 was performed. Clinical outcomes were analyzed including graft patency as well as associated complications related to dialysis grafts and tunneled dialysis catheter (TDC). Results: During the study period, 142 patients received BCAG and 128 patients received PTFE graft implantation for dialysis access. The mean duration from graft implantation to graft cannulation in the BCAG and PTFE group was 12.3 ± 8.5 days versus 43.5 ± 16.4, respectively ( P = .01). Bovine carotid artery graft group had a higher 2-year primary patency rate (33% vs 14%, P = .03) and assisted primary rate (57% vs 23%, P = .02) compared to the PTFE group. The 2-year secondary patency rates were similar between the 2 groups (56% vs 53%, P = .69). Complication rates in the BCAG and PTFE group was 1.69 ± 0.24 per patient-year versus 2.54 ± 0.48 per patient-year, respectively ( P = .01). Tunneled dialysis catheter-related infection was greater in the PTFE group compared to the BCAG group (10.87 ± 2.61 vs 5.69 ± 0.98 per 1000 TDC days; P = .02). Bovine carotid artery graft cohorts group required a mean of 1.69 interventions per patient-year, compared to 2.76 per patient-year for the PTFE group ( P = .03). Conclusions: Bovine carotid artery graft permits earlier cannulation for hemodialysis access with superior primary and assisted primary patency rates compared to PTFE grafts. Patients with BCAG experienced shorter indwelling TDC duration and less TDC-related complications compared to PTFE cohorts.

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Current status of vascular access in Japan—from Dialysis Access Symposium 2017

The Journal of Vascular Access ◽

10.1177/1129729818762982 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 20 (1_suppl) ◽

pp. 38-44

Author(s):

Mizuya Fukasawa

Keyword(s):

Vascular Access ◽

Current Status ◽

Good Survival ◽

Chronic Glomerulonephritis ◽

Dialysis Access ◽

Dialysis Patients ◽

Survival Prognosis ◽

Access Methods ◽

Number Of Patients ◽

Wide Range

At the second Dialysis Access Symposium held in Nagoya, Japan, a proposal was made to investigate the differences in vascular access methods used in different countries. In this article, we describe the management of vascular access in Japan. The Japanese population is rapidly aging, and the proportion of elderly patients on dialysis is also increasing. There were 325,000 dialysis patients in Japan at the end of 2015, of whom 65.1% were aged 65 years or above. The number of patients with diabetic nephropathy or nephrosclerosis as the underlying condition is also increasing, whereas the number with chronic glomerulonephritis is steadily decreasing. The Japanese health insurance system enables patients to undergo medical treatment at almost no out-of-pocket cost. Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty suffers from a severe device lag compared with other countries, but although there are limitations on permitted devices, the use of those that have been authorized is covered by medical insurance. One important point that is unique to Japan is that vascular access is performed and managed by doctors involved in dialysis across a wide range of disciplines, including nephrologists, surgeons, and urologists. This may be one factor contributing to the good survival prognosis of Japanese dialysis patients.

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The Impact of Clinical Presentation on Survival in Patients Requiring Hemodialysis Catheters for Acute and Unplanned Dialysis: A Prospective Observational Study

Canadian Journal of Kidney Health and Disease ◽

10.1177/20543581211009986 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 8 ◽

pp. 205435812110099

Author(s):

Benjamin Talbot ◽

Ray Lin ◽

Qiang Li ◽

Min Jun ◽

Sradha Kotwal ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Observational Study ◽

Clinical Presentation ◽

High Risk Patient ◽

Renal Unit ◽

Dialysis Access ◽

Hemodialysis Access ◽

All Cause Mortality ◽

Maintenance Dialysis ◽

The Impact ◽

Unplanned Dialysis

Background: Most studies addressing hemodialysis initiation with a dialysis catheter focus on patients entering maintenance dialysis programs and exclude other patients, such as those with acute kidney injury (AKI), making interpretation and application of the results difficult for clinicians managing patients at the time of dialysis commencement. Objective: To compare the survival of all patients requiring a catheter for hemodialysis access according to the nature of clinical presentation. Design: Prospective observational. Setting: An Australian tertiary renal unit. Patients: All patients requiring a central venous catheter (CVC) for hemodialysis access between 2005 and 2015. Measurements: Baseline comorbidities, demographics, and nature of clinical presentation. Data regarding each episode of dialysis access insufficiency and each CVC were collected. The primary outcome was all-cause mortality. Methods: Patients were classified into 1 of 3 groups based on physician assessment at the time of presentation: patients believed to have AKI with expected renal recovery (AKI), patients considered to be entering the maintenance dialysis program without a functioning dialysis access (Maintenance Dialysis), patients unable to perform peritoneal dialysis, or use their existing hemodialysis access (Access Failure). Time-split multivariable Cox regression analyses were used to compare survival between groups. Results: A total of 557 eligible patients had complete prospective data regarding CVC use and were included in the analyses. The majority of patients were in the AKI (246/557, 44%) and Maintenance Dialysis groups (182/557, 33%) compared with the Access Failure group (129/557, 23%). During a median follow-up of 3 years, 302 (54%) of the 557 patients died. Following adjustment, risk of all-cause mortality was higher in the AKI group (hazard ratio [HR]: 2.01, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.31-3.60, P = .001) during the first 2 years after catheter insertion and lower in years 2 to 4 (HR: 0.42, 95% CI: 0.20-0.88, P = .02) than in the reference Maintenance Dialysis group. No difference in mortality risk between the Access Failure and reference group was found. Limitations: Single-center study. Possible residual confounding owing to the observational study design. Conclusions: Patients requiring acute or unplanned hemodialysis experience high mortality, and the nature of clinical presentation does influence outcomes. Most notable is the greater early mortality experienced by patients with AKI compared to other patient groups. Prospective definition of the nature of unplanned dialysis initiation is important to accurately measure and improve outcomes in this high-risk patient population. Human Research Ethics Committee Approval Number CH62/6/2017-042.

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Strategy for the Maximal Use of Native Arteriovenous Fistulae for Hemodialysis

The Scientific World JOURNAL ◽

10.1100/tsw.2006.171 ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 6 ◽

pp. 808-815 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Marko Malovrh

Keyword(s):

Clinical Practice ◽

Vascular Access ◽

Clinical Practice Guidelines ◽

Practice Guidelines ◽

Significant Proportion ◽

Chronic Hemodialysis ◽

Diabetic Patients ◽

Term Survival ◽

Av Fistula ◽

Native Fistula

The long-term survival and quality of life of patients on hemodialysis is dependant on the adequacy of dialysis via an appropriately placed vascular access. The native arteriovenous fistula (AV fistula) at the wrist is generally accepted as the vascular access of choice in hemodialysis patients due to its low complication and high patency rates. It has been shown beyond doubt that an optimally functioning AV fistula is a good prognostic factor of patient morbidity and mortality in the dialysis phase. Recent clinical practice guidelines recommend the creation of a vascular access (native fistula or synthetic graft) before the start of chronic hemodialysis therapy to prevent the need for complication-prone dialysis catheters. A multidisciplinary approach, including nephrologists, surgeons, interventional radiologists, and nurses should improve the hemodialysis outcome by promoting the use of native AV fistulae. An important additional component of this program is the Doppler ultrasound for preoperative vascular mapping. This approach may be realized without unsuccessful surgical explorations, with a minimal early failure rate, and a high maturation, even in risk groups such as elderly and diabetic patients. Vascular access care is responsible for a significant proportion of health care costs in the first year of hemodialysis. These results also support clinical practice guidelines that recommend the preferential placement of a native fistula.

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Effectiveness and safety of repeated percutaneous intervention in an office-based endovascular center in maintaining hemodialysis access

Vascular ◽

10.1177/17085381211004306 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 170853812110043

Author(s):

Jay Patel ◽

Stephanie Chang ◽

Shaan Manawar ◽

John Munn ◽

Mark C Rummel ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Percutaneous Intervention ◽

Dialysis Access ◽

Arteriovenous Graft ◽

Hemodialysis Access ◽

Upper Arm ◽

Access Site ◽

Arteriovenous Fistulas ◽

Arteriovenous Grafts ◽

The Mean

Objectives Percutaneous dialysis access interventions are routinely used to maintain the patency of dialysis access despite the lack of data regarding their long-term effectiveness. This retrospective study was undertaken to study the effectiveness and safety of percutaneous dialysis access interventions in arm fistulas and bridge grafts in an office-based endovascular center. Methods Patients who had a percutaneous dialysis access intervention in their upper extremity access site, performed at a single office-based endovascular center over a nine-year period (2007–2016) were included in this study. The patients’ demographic factors, patency, and complications were analyzed. Patients were entered in the study after first percutaneous dialysis access intervention. Results A total of 298 limbs in 259 patients had 913 procedures carried out over a nine-year period. There were 190 access arteriovenous fistulas and 108 arteriovenous grafts. The two most common arteriovenous fistulas were the brachiocephalic fistula ( n = 74, 39%) and radio cephalic fistula ( n = 69, 36%). Arteriovenous grafts were most commonly placed in the upper arm ( n = 66, 61%) followed by the forearm ( n = 42, 39%). The mean overall patency for all limbs was 50.86 months. Arteriovenous fistulas had a significantly longer patency than arteriovenous grafts (51.65 vs. 42.09 months; P = 0.01). In addition, patients with two or more percutaneous dialysis access intervention in their arteriovenous fistula had significantly greater patency than those with only one percutaneous dialysis access intervention (58.5 vs. 7.6 months; hazard ratio 0.41; P = 0.0008). This was not true for the arteriovenous graft group. Women represented 49% of the patient group. Their accesses had shorter patency than men (39.8 vs. 60 months; P = 0.0007). Conclusions This data support the use of repeated percutaneous dialysis access intervention to maintain long-term patency of dialysis access sites in an office-based endovascular center. Overall, fistulas have longer patency than grafts and women have poorer outcomes as compared to men

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P1490MONTHLY TREND AND SEASONALITY IN ACUTE AND CHRONIC HEMODIALYSIS; RESULT FROM NATIONWIDE DATABASE OF MEDICAL BILLS OF UNIVERSAL HEALTH CARE INSURANCE SYSTEM IN JAPAN

Nephrology Dialysis Transplantation ◽

10.1093/ndt/gfaa142.p1490 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 35 (Supplement_3) ◽

Author(s):

Ryoya Tsunoda ◽

Hirayasu Kai ◽

Masahide Kondo ◽

Naohiro Mitsutake ◽

Kunihiro Yamagata

Keyword(s):

Health Care ◽

Seasonal Variation ◽

Chronic Hemodialysis ◽

Universal Health Care ◽

Health Care Insurance ◽

Individual Data ◽

Insurance System ◽

Number Of Patients ◽

Medical Bills ◽

Universal Health

Abstract Background and Aims Although knowing the accurate number of patients of hemodialysis important, data collection is a hard task. Establishing a simplified and prompt method of data collection for perspective hemodialysis is strongly needed. In Japan, there is a universal health care insurance system that covers almost all population. This study aimed to know a seasonal variation of hemodialysis patients using the big database of medical bills in Japan. Method Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare established a big database named National Database (NDB), that consists of medical bills data in Japan. All bills data were sent to the data server from The Examination and Payment Agency, the organization that receives all medical bills from each medical institution and judge validity for payment. Each record of the database consists of bill data of one patient of a month for each medical institution. All data were anonymized before saved in the server and gave virtual patient identification number (VPID) that is unique for each patient. VPID is a hash value calculated by patient’s individual data such as name, date of birth, so that the value cannot be duplicate. Calculation of VPID is executed by an irreversible way to make it difficult to decrypt VPID into patient’s individual data. This database includes all information about medical care of whole population in Japan except for patients not under the insurance system (patients under public assistance system, victims of the war, or any other specified people under the public medical expense). Using this database, we investigated monthly number of patients who were recorded to be undergone hemodialysis (HD, includes hemodiafiltration). We searched chronic HD patients who have undergone HD on the month and continued it for 3 months, and acute HD patients who have discontinued HD within 3 months. Results In NDB, the number of chronic HD patients under public insurance system who confirmed to have undergone HD in December 2014 was 284 433. In contrast, the number of HD patients identified from the year-end survey by Japanese Society of Dialysis Therapy in the same year was of 311 193, but this number includes patients not under insurance system. Incidence rate of acute HD in Japan was persisted at 30-39 per million per month. There is a reproducible seasonal variation in number of acute HD patients, that increases in every winter and decreasing in every summer. The significantly highest frequency was observed in February(38.5/million/month) compared with September(30.6/million/month), the lowest month of the year (p<0.01). Conclusion We could show the trend in number of HD patients using nationwide bills data. Seasonality in some clinical factors in patients under chronic hemodialysis such as blood pressure, intradialytic body weight gain, morbidity of congestive heart failure, and, mortality, has been reported in many observational studies. Also, there are a few former reports about seasonality in AKI. However, a report about acute RRT is few. From our knowledge, this is the first report that revealed monthly dynamics of HD in a whole nation and rising risk of acute HD in winter. The true mechanism of this seasonality remains unclear. We have to establish a method to collect clinical data such as prevalence of CKD, causative diseases of AKI, kinds of precedent operations, and medications in connection with billing data.

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The usefulness and feasibility of placing a clinch knot with a guidewire to achieve temporary hemostasis in arteriovenous dialysis access interventions

The Journal of Vascular Access ◽

10.1177/1129729820954742 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 112972982095474

Author(s):

Sung-Joon Park ◽

Hwan Hoon Chung ◽

Seung Hwa Lee ◽

Sung Beom Cho ◽

Tae-Seok Seo ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Clinical Success ◽

Primary Patency ◽

Interventional Treatment ◽

Secondary Patency ◽

Dialysis Access ◽

Hemodialysis Access ◽

Purse String Suture ◽

Purse String ◽

Arteriovenous Fistulas ◽

Arteriovenous Grafts

Purpose: To evaluate the usefulness and feasibility of using a reversible clinch knot with a guidewire in place rather than eliminating the access route during an arteriovenous hemodialysis access (AV access) intervention using the facing sheath technique. Material and methods: From July 2016 to June 2019, we retrospectively studied 78 sessions performed as interventional treatment for arteriovenous (AV) hemodialysis (HD) access using the “facing-sheath technique.” In all sessions, all antegrade sheaths were removed while a 0.035-inch guidewire remained in place with purse-string suture and the clinch knot. Seventy-two sessions were performed in patients with thrombosed AV accesses (69 arteriovenous grafts [AVGs] and three arteriovenous fistulas [AVFs]), and six sessions were carried out to treat non-thrombosed AV accesses (four AVGs and two AVFs). We evaluated whether proper hemostasis and successful reinsertion of the sheath over the wire into the clinch knot was achieved. Clinical success was defined as achieving prompt restoration of blood flow for AV access, and the postintervention primary and secondary patency were also evaluated. Result: In all 87 clinch knots created in 78 total sessions, proper hemostasis was achieved. All clinch knots that required reversal for additional procedures were successfully reopened (55 clinch knots in 50 sessions). The postintervention primary patency rates at 1, 3, and 6 months, and at 1 year were 77.8%, 68.9%, 55.6%, and 33.3%, respectively. The postintervention secondary patency rates at 1, 3, and 6 months, and also at 1 year were 93.3%, 91.1%, 86.7%, and 86.7%, respectively. Conclusion: Our AV access intervention which used a clinch knot with purse-string suture while the guidewire remained in place was both useful and feasible for maintaining temporary hemostasis.

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